Chapter 30 Will You Marry That Loveless Man?

- What?! Margaret shuddered. "What are you talking about?" Isabella!

Margaret frowned, annoyed by the confusion, and not knowing what to do. Isabella took a step back, stunned by Diego's statement. I had never expected to hear such words.

Isabella apologized, completely surprised by Diego's revelation.

What was happening? Was Isabella backing out of the wedding at the last minute?

"I'm sorry, grandma... He's Diego, well, he was my best friend. He grew up with me in the suburbs and then he was..." Isabella tried to explain, her pulse racing and visibly confused. Margaret breathed a sigh of relief to see that Isabella was not retracting the wedding.

Diego contorted his face in a grimace of pain, anticipating what Isabella was going to say. He decided to intervene.

- Isabella, I know I left, but I had valid reasons... I wanted to help you, I..." Diego tried to get closer to her.

Isabella did not know how to react to Diego's unexpected closeness. Her gaze shifted between her grandmother and the man, completely disoriented, and stunned.

"Well, sir," Margaret intervened, interposing herself between Diego and Isabella to stop their approach. "Now that I know you know each other, I should like to know what you are doing here."

"I'm here to take her. She cannot marry, much less Máximo Collins. Diego said, full of conviction and frustration.

"What?" And who are you to decide that? Margaret replied, visibly indignant.

“I am Maximo's best friend and the best man at this wedding. I didn't find out who the bride was until now... Because I'm the man destined to marry Isabella. Diego gave Isabella a meaningful look.

"What?" Isabella opened her eyes in surprise.

Diego's revelation left Isabella stunned. How was it possible that his former friend was now Maximus's best friend? And, if that was true, he was there as the best man at the wedding.

"Isabella, I promised to seek a better life and return to find you, but when I got to your house, it was too late. I am very sorry for the loss of your mother; Mrs. Patricia was a great woman. Diego spoke with a lump in his throat, his eyes reflected pain. “I work with Máximo abroad, that's why I didn't find out before and I couldn't go back before. Should... I should have done my best.

Diego turned and hit a wall, trying to release all his frustration. Margaret was annoyed, she did not like the man's attitude, she did not stop detailing it with interest, because she could not stop thinking that he was familiar to her from somewhere.

Would he have seen him in some of the meetings with the Collins? She didn't understand why, but her mind told her it was important to remember.

"Enough is enough!" Margaret stood in front of her granddaughter, clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was taking and with Diego's presence. - Sir, I understand that he was a friend of my granddaughter, but that does not give him the right to try to take her. I would be grateful if you would leave.

"No... I won't leave without Isabella. Diego faced her firmly, his voice full of determination.

"What?" Margaret clenched her fists, her anger evident.

Isabella, seeing that the situation was getting out of control, immediately intervened.

"Grandma, wait..." The young woman took Margaret by the arm, trying to calm her down. Then he turned to Diego with concern. - Diego, I don't understand much of what is happening. All this is... Confusing and hasty for me.

"Isabella..." Diego took a step towards her, his eyes full of emotion. - I love you; I have always loved you. Since we were kids, I've been in love with you, but I didn't dare say it before. I had nothing to offer you and you... You come from a distinguished family, that's why I had to leave..." Diego knelt in front of Isabella, leaving both women with their mouths open at his statement. "But now everything is different. I have money, a good status, and I can take care of you and give you everything you deserve. I even bought your parents' house for you...

"What did you do?" Isabella could barely breathe, surprised by Diego's words.

- I want to give you everything, I want you to become my spouse. Let's run away together, run away, and marry me. Diego extended a hand to her, his gaze full of hope.

Isabella swallowed, her hands sweating, and her pulse racing, not because she shared the same feelings, but because the statement had caught her completely off guard. I didn't know how to respond.

I cherished Diego as a friend, because of the time they had shared in the past, but that was about it. Could she marry him and live by his side as his spouse? I wasn't sure I could do it.

"Grandma..." The young woman looked at Margaret, who was watching Diego seriously.

"It's your decision, Isabella..." Margaret murmured, without looking up. "Now you have another choice, and I won't force you to do anything. She let go of her granddaughter's arm and went to the sofa in the living room, sitting down with disdain. He did not add more.

Isabella was paralyzed, unable to believe that she really had the freedom to choose, that she was not obliged to marry Maxim Collins.

But to go with Diego?

She remembered that he was a good boy, but Isabella hadn't seen him for a long time, that she hadn't heard from him, they had never communicated.

What fate awaited Isabella if she went with him? Diego did not offer to escape just to help her as his friend, he aspired to something more, he wanted to get married.

Would Isabella flee her fate in one imposed wedding only to be trapped in another?

Because if she went with him, that means she would have to accept him, she would have to marry him... That was what Diego offered him.

Besides, by leaving, wouldn't she be condemning her grandmother? Isabella swallowed thick at the thought.

She couldn't leave, she couldn't leave her grandmother, for what? To escape from a marriage, she had already resigned herself to, and with a man for whom (although she esteemed and appreciated him to a certain extent), she felt nothing?

If she went with Diego, there was no turning back, the Sinclair’s would banish her grandmother, they would take everything from her, and would Isabella be able to do anything to help her? Could Diego support her? No, no one could compete with the power of the Sinclair’s or the Collins.

"No..." The young woman spoke firmly.

"What?" Diego looked at her in surprise, his mouth half-open.

"I'm not going to leave, I'm not going to run away with you..." Isabella looked at her grandmother, who nodded, as surprised as Diego. “I have a commitment to fulfill. I'm going to marry Maximo Collins.

"No! Diego stood up, his voice full of conviction. "You can't marry him. Máximo doesn't love you; he despises you.

“I know. Isabella let out a wince.

"So, you'd rather marry him than go with me?" “Diego was indignant.

"It's not about what I prefer, but about what's right, Diego..." Isabella tried to be understanding. "I appreciate your feelings, but I can't reciprocate you. I don't feel the same..." He took one of Diego's hands, holding it firmly. “I'm so sorry.

Diego abruptly let go of his grip and stepped back, his brow furrowed.

"If you marry him, you're going to suffer." Máximo Collins is not exactly an affectionate or dedicated man. His tone was grave. "And his family is even worse, full of discord and ambition.

"Sir, from your words, I must assume that you are not as good a friend of Maximus as you say, are you?" Margaret stood up, looking at him suspiciously.

"I'm just telling the truth... She has no idea what she is getting her granddaughter into. Diego addressed Margaret with a grunt.

“The Collins are a respectable family. Yes, Máximo may be cold and aloof, but he is not a bad man. He is responsible, hardworking, and honest, unlike you, who speak badly of your supposed friend behind your back. Margaret replied firmly.

Diego, furious, turned to answer Margaret, but Isabella stopped him by taking his arm. At that moment, a knock was heard on the door.

Margaret went to open the door and found the wedding planner, who informed her that it was time for the bride to come out.

"Isabella, it's time. Margaret announced, casting a withering glance at Diego.

Without question, or hesitation, Isabella advanced towards her grandmother. Of course, the young woman was still nervous, with her pulse racing, but she was willing to keep her promise, she was not going to back down.

"Isabella?" Diego took her by the arm, stopping her. "Are you sure about this?" It's an arranged marriage... Will you marry that loveless man? Isabella lowered her gaze, something inside her stirred for an instant.

It was her childhood dream to marry a good man, someone hardworking, funny, and honest, but who, above all, loved her.

Just like the love that she herself knew in her family, the same unconditional love that she saw from her father to her mother and vice versa.

Diego knew it, he knew that desire that Isabella declared to him as a child and precisely because of that, he said those words to her.

"Maybe I'm marrying without love..." Isabella murmured with her eyes downcast, which she then raised to look at her grandmother. "But I'm doing it for love, it doesn't matter if it's a different love..." She looked at Diego, and then let go of his grip. Because what we give, is what we receive. With a lump in her throat, the young woman had quoted the words her mother once said to her.

Isabella left holding her grandmother's hand, leaving Diego alone in the living room, angry, frustrated, but, above all, hurt.